Leadership on Speed

is the american dream still possible?

As a child growing up in Los Angeles, it never occurred to me that I couldn't achieve anything I wanted.  It simply wasn't a part of the conversation in my household.  Don't get me wrong, it wasn't like we all had to be these intense over-achievers or anything like that... It was simply that it was instilled in us that the only limits that we had were those that were self-imposed.

Having gone out in the world, I recognize that my household (and that belief system) was an amazing blessing.  It had me go out in the world with a level of confidence that many will never know.  In some instances, I have succeeded.  In some instances, I have failed.

In all instances, I have tried.

When I began my company, I never had "failure" conversations.  I was blessed to wake up daily doing work that I loved and there was no turning back.

But I sometimes wonder if I have created my own utopia.

Once upon a time, the American dream was defined as marrying, having children, owning a home and even having a family business. 

Bank failures, the credit crunch and massive lay-offs don't currently afford the same (or equal) opportunity for all to have that piece of the dream so has the dream died or is it simply something different?

What do you think?

What is your American dream?

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

on balance

I saw this great quote recently and just had to share it.

Someone was being interviewed about how they maintain balance and this was the reply, "I fall short of being good at balancing everything, but I assume it's like golf: You can never master it, and you're in competition with yourself."

How great is that?!?!!

And how true!

As a coach, I always keep an eye out for the balance in my clients lives (as well as my own) and seeing this quote offered a new perspective.

You were born to be great.

YES, you can!

if you aren't in the mood, DO something

How often have you said (or heard others say), "I don't feel like it."?  As human beings, we tend to be run by our emotions instead of our commitments.  Have you ever canceled a commitment because you didn't feel like it? Didn't work on a project you know you needed to complete or postponed something with your family because you didn't feel like it?  You aren't alone.  All of us have done it at one time or another.  Here's one way to break old habits and re-train yourself to fulfill your commitments even when you aren't in the mood:

The minute your feelings begin to take control, make the decision to be more powerful than your emotions and DO something.  Success results from applying consistent action to your goals despite other things that may be going on, including the days you don't feel like it.

The funny thing is, it almost always feels better after we just get it done!  No wonder Nike has been so successful with the slogan JUST DO IT!

YES, you can!

dreamin' about....winning the lottery

As I write this post, the Florida lottery is at $10 million.   All things considered not one of the highest winnings we've had in recent months, but certainly not anything to sneeze at.  I often ask people what they would do if they won a lottery and oftentimes I hear them say that the first thing they would do is quit their job, take some time off, buy stuff and most likely do some traveling.  The next thing I ask is, "Then what?" More often than not, the question stumps people.  Then what?  How will you fill your days after you buy all the stuff, you travel until you're bored and and you're tired of having nothing to do but spend money and travel.  Then what?  What are you going to do that compels you to actually get out of bed every morning and well...keep living?  Think about it for a minute...you have no one to play with (other than possibly your spouse) because all your friends are at work and unless you plan to finance them for the rest of their lives, they can't golf, take a month off to go on an adventure or even take a half day to chill out with you, so.... then what?  How is it that you will choose to give back to this world when you now have the opportunity to live life on your terms?  Would you start a non-profit?  Would you start a for-profit?  Would you donate more time to charity?  Would you find part- or full-time work that is more about filling your heart than your wallet?  Would you find more balance between work and play?  Take some time today to dream about what you would do if......  Then take a deep breathe and (as Nike would say).

JUST DO IT!

Here's the thing: Chances are you will never win the lottery but you CAN start a for-profit (or not-for-profit), you can find full- or part-time work that fills your heart and your wallet, you can donate more time to charity and you can create greater balance between work and play.  Begin with the end in mind. All it requires is that you be clear about your personal/professional vision and that you create a strategic plan to get there.  Why not live today as if you have already won the lottery?

YES, you can!

happy new year

As a new year begins, I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all who have supported The Next Step and have allowed me to partner with you in the creation of amazing accomplishments.  Let's keep up the good work in 2008 for an even more amazing and abundant year.

to a simply abundant 2008!

As the New Year quickly approaches, I have a special invitation for you - especially my women friends and sisters in Spirit.  It seems that more and more often, my girlfriends and I don't have as much time to connect and just relax.  We are taking care of our children, our spouses, our extended families.  We are being good corporate citizens and successful business owners.  We are awaking earlier, going to bed later, sleeping less and enjoying less downtime.  We are busy, frenetic givers and we are burning out and losing our sense of self...our sense of ease.  Well...at least I am....at times...and although my life is full and happy, there seems to be a trade-off to having it all.

I decided that in 2008 I am taking a journey to Simple Abundance.  I was introduced to Sarah Ban Breathnach's work several years ago and I have always been intrigued by it's offering.  I believe I may have even started the journey a year ago and shortly into it, my "busy-ness" got the better of me.  I realize of course that I simply wasn't ready.  Not then.  But now I feel I am and this year I decided to take some friends along with me.  As I grow older, I find that our paths may be different but our journey is similar and I would love the opportunity to grow and learn not just from my own experience but that of others.  In that spirit, I extend this invitation to join me on this journey.

Our journey begins January 1, 2008 and takes place one day at a time for 365 days. There is no fee but the value is priceless.   All you need do is purchase Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Joy and Comfort by Sarah Ban Breathnach and come back, visit and share your journey!

I look forward to meeting you and growing together in a Simply Abundant 2008!

to jamie

I know it has been a while since I posted, thereby breaking one of the cardinal rules of the blogging world but it has been a tremendously crazy month.  I knew I "needed" to blog but wasn't feeling compelled to blog -- until today.  Today I am inspired to write because of the life of Mrs. Jamie McCloud Perez - proud mother, beautiful human being, amazing spirit.  I found out yesterday that Jamie passed away on November 29th (my daughters first birthday), and while I'm still trying to figure THAT one out, I received more details on her death today and find myself in this sort of quiet, prayerful, tearful, reflective place that I wanted to share with you.  First of all, I guess I need to tell you that Jamie was a company-mate of mine at West Point (Go Spartans) and a year ahead of me.  While I knew Jamie, I was actually friends with the man she would ultimately marry, my classmate Felix.  It has been years since I communicated directly with either Jamie or Felix, having visited them once years ago at their home.  So why has this passing touched me so?  Well, first of all, Jamie was 44 years young - her death was sudden and in passing, she leaves behind a 2 1/2 year old daughter....  Whew...  Her husband Felix has posted a website to her memory at www.JamieMcCloudPerez.com which I invite you to visit.  When you do, what you'll see is the legacy of a vibrant, young, loving, giving, wife, mother and friend.  She was felled with an uncommon illness which took her much too soon but I write this to her legacy and to your future.  Today, I got on my knees and I prayed..a fervent prayer of Thanksgiving for all of my many blessings including my very breath.  A prayer of Thanksgiving for my husband, my daughter, my family, my friends.  A prayer for Jamie who I know now sits with God.  A prayer for Felix to be both strong for their daughter Mercedes and weak.  To be loving and authentic.  To give her his humanness in this time when we are inclined to say, "Be strong."  A prayer for all people of the world to get that our time is finite and that while some of us know through diagnosis or prognosis that time is limited, many do not and as such, we must live each day as if it our last.  How often do we give our love away?  How often do we demonstrate through word or action that we truly love those around us?  How often do we say thank you for the gifts we have received?  If today were your last, what would you be most proud of?  What would you regret having done or not done?  Are you willing to embrace those regrets? To take them on? To move toward them as if you only had a day, a week, a month?  Today is an opportunity to review your life and begin to create it in whatever way you choose.  Jamie, thank you.  Thank you for your life, for your legacy, for touching people n the way that only you could and for making a difference for so many people - including me.